| The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is expected | | | | there is a great atmosphere and I am excited to get |
| to spread out the thrill and the excitement in the race | | | | out there and see where we are compared to the |
| track this weekend. This will be the team's very first | | | | other teams," said Alonso. "There are a lot of new |
| time to invade the track in its new era. Fernando | | | | things in the sport this season such as new rules, all |
| Alonso, Double and his equally famous teammate | | | | teams running on Bridgestone Potenzas, drivers |
| Lewis Hamilton, have completed their pre-season test | | | | changing teams. Everyone is starting from zero and it |
| programme with the MP4-22s. The test programme | | | | is going to make things very interesting. Am I going to |
| covered over 13,300km before arriving in Australia. | | | | go out at Albert Park and win my first race with |
| Fernando and Lewis completed 10,200km while Pedro | | | | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes? We are certainly |
| dela Rosa, another famous racer, covered 3,100km. | | | | going to push hard to try." |
| Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team infrastructure | | | | Both drivers have been working closely with their race |
| arrived in Australia by sea freight during the week | | | | engineers during testing at the McLaren Technology |
| commencing 26th February, having left the McLaren | | | | Centre. Alonso is working with Mark Slade and |
| Technology Centre on 10th January. This was followed | | | | Hamilton with Phil Prew. During the Grands Prix, |
| by the air freight. On the 11th of this month, the team | | | | Fernando will have Steve Hallam as his contact on the |
| arrived with Fernando arriving in Melbourne on the 12th | | | | pit wall and then Lewis will be speaking with Richard |
| and Lewis on the 14th. | | | | Hopkirk. Car racing parts are also checked to ensure |
| Upon arrival in Melbourne, the first task given to the | | | | maximum performance. These cars may not be |
| team is to find the freight and start the process of | | | | mated to Bosch product lines but the power is |
| setting up the necessary facilities like the garage and | | | | remarkably better. |
| office areas. The few days spent were full of fun and | | | | "Taking to the grid Australia is the end of one journey |
| stimulation. On Thursday, Fernando and Lewis will join | | | | for me and the start of an even bigger one. I have |
| Pedro for a team event at a beach front restaurant in | | | | been working incredibly hard towards this moment |
| Melbourne, before arriving at the Albert Park track to | | | | over the past few months, testing, physical training, |
| walk the track with their engineers and partake in the | | | | working with the engineers at the McLaren |
| first technical meeting of the Grand Prix. | | | | Technology Centre and studying the regulations," |
| The team has spent time during the winter season | | | | Hamilton said. "I feel I have the experience I need and I |
| with Fernando and Lewis familiarizing everyone and | | | | definitely feel ready to get out there. This year will be |
| building one solid unit. The phase was more like a | | | | a learning curve for me, Albert Park is one of the |
| process of learning and having two new drivers to add | | | | seven new tracks I'll be racing on, but it is not a huge |
| element of motivation. | | | | problem more an exciting challenge. I have always |
| "Having spent the winter getting to know my new | | | | enjoyed street circuits, so it is great to start my career |
| team and new car, I feel really at home and am very | | | | in Formula 1 with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes here. |
| motivated to start racing. I always enjoy Australia, | | | | |